Student council pushes later high school start times with state officials

Paul Schott

Updated 9:50 pm, Wednesday, February 11, 2015

As the debate continues about Greenwich High School's start time, one student wants to enlist state officials to help change the schedule.

A state student advisory council, which includes Greenwich High senior Peter Russell, has recommended a later start for high-schoolers. Russell and several other council members pitched the plan when they appeared last week before the state Board of Education.

They are hoping for the state board to endorse an 8:30 a.m. start for high schools. Greenwich High classes currently begin at 7:30 a.m.

"The two main benefits of a later start time are improved student health and an increase in student achievement in the classroom," Russell said this week. "Both of these are supported by significant medical research."

Russell is the only Greenwich student on the council.

Local officials decide school start times, but the student council has tried to raise awareness by approaching state officials.

Start times have emerged as a major concern for medical professionals, parents and students, especially high-schoolers, in recent years. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommended last August that middle and high schools start classes at 8:30 a.m. or later.

"A substantial body of research has now demonstrated that delaying school start times is an effective countermeasure to chronic sleep loss and has a wide range of potential benefits to students with regard to physical and mental health, safety and academic achievement," the AAP said in a statement.

In Greenwich, the doctors' recommendation spurred calls from many parents and students to push back the high school's start time.

Last September, school board member Peter von Braun proposed making Greenwich High's start time 8:30 a.m. or later on days when standardized tests are administered.

He argued that the change would help students get better scores. School administrators were noncommittal, but they have said that they will report on their findings on the feasibility of von Braun's idea March 5.

Opponents of a later start at Greenwich High say it would complicate scheduling for sports teams, make teachers' commutes more difficult and inconvenience students who work or take care of younger siblings after school.

Von Braun said he was pleased to hear about the state student council's position.

"The more support we have the better," he said. "The students' support is certainly helpful."

The proposal for a later start on test days was just the start for von Braun. He wants to see the high school move to a regular-day start of 8:30 a.m. or later.

"The response on this issue has been enormous, strong and heartfelt," von Braun said. "Parents want to see their kids go to school when they're awake."